Technically, there's no such thing as "Baha'i music." But when you hear the rich, uplifting voices of the choir cascading down from on high at the Baha'i House of Worship of the North American Continent in Wilmette, Ill., "technically" seems, well, a technicality. Especially when the choir is singing "I'm So Glad," or another stirring piece written by Van Gilmer, newly appointed director of music.

Van Gilmer
PHOTO CREDIT: Bill Sanda"The Faith deliberately has no established liturgy," says Mr. Gilmer, who recently moved to the Chicago area from Washington, D.C., to assume his new position. Mr. Gilmer has directed the Baha'i Gospel Singers for more than 13 years, and for the last seven years also directed the Metropolitan Washington Baha'i Chorale in the D.C. area.

As an expression of unity - one of the main precepts of the Baha'i Faith - Baha'i choirs sing the liturgical music of other religions as well as pieces set to Baha'i scripture. This ecumenical approach "brings together religions and celebrates God," Mr. Gilmer says. "And the music should come from the heart, so listeners feel the music has reached their own heart and soul."

And sing from the heart the Wilmette-based choir does, bringing heavenly harmony to the Baha'i House of Worship for the North American Continent - one of seven Baha'i temples in the world - which has been without a choir director for some time.

Composed mostly of Baha'is from the Chicago area, the a cappella group has a repertoire that consists mainly of passages from Baha'i scripture set to a variety of music - gospel, classical and multicultural.

Through the years, it's Mr. Gilmer's gospel repertoire that has especially roused the spirit. Born into a Baptist family, he grew up hearing gospel tunes in his hometown of Greensboro, N.C., but didn't perform them until later in his life.

When Mr. Gilmer got to college, he wanted to major in music. But as a student at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State (NCA&T), a Historically Black School, the only music degrees were in education, something in which he didn't have an interest. Instead, Mr. Gilmer majored in architectural engineering, sang arias in the university concert choir and played clarinet in the marching band and oboe in the concert band. He also picked up guitar and sang folk music, which was enjoying a heyday in the ‘60s.

Mr. Gilmer performed at a World Religion Day observance at NCA&T, organized by the Baha'is in Greensboro. He was drawn to the Baha'is, whom he says were "already demonstrating the unity of all people that those involved in the sit-ins of the times were trying to achieve." After further investigating the Faith, Mr. Gilmer became a Baha'i in 1964.

Van Gilmer and the Baha'i ChoirIn 1992, he was asked to establish the first Baha'i Gospel Choir, which performed at the Second Baha'i World Congress in New York that same year. It was the major debut of African American Gospel music in the Baha'i community.

"We were so well received, we were floored," Mr. Gilmer says. "People were crying and holding hands."

In 2004, Mr. Gilmer led 100 singers through Western Europe, performing Negro spirituals and gospel music. Half of the group was of African descent, and other members were from 25 states in the United States and 10 other countries.

Mr. Gilmer recently retired after 37 years as an engineer and is excited to turn his full attention to his musical activities at the Baha'i House of Worship. On Nov. 8, he directed his last concert with the Washington Baha'i chorale at the 26th Annual Interfaith Concert held in the Washington National Cathedral.

One person in attendance said the choir's "positivity" was "infectious." Mr. Gilmer is already recreating that spirit at the House of Worship in Wilmette, where worshipers are saying they're so glad to hear music ring from the rafters once again.